Fire safety equipment is essential for protecting employees, customers, and property. Regardless of the size or type of business you operate, having the proper fire protection tools in place—and ensuring they’re maintained and accessible—can make a life-saving difference in the event of a fire.
How to use a fire extinguisher is one of the most important safety skills your team should have in the event of a fire emergency. While it’s essential to have fire extinguishers in place throughout your facility, it’s equally vital that employees know how to operate them properly and confidently. A few moments of hesitation or misuse can make all the difference in containing a fire before it spreads.
Fire extinguishers are only effective when used correctly, and unfortunately, many people don’t receive formal training. That’s why hands-on training or a simple refresher course is a smart investment. Employees should be introduced to the PASS method:
This method offers a clear, easy-to-remember process for quickly reacting during a stressful situation.
Another important part of learning how to use a fire extinguisher is understanding the different types of fires and matching them to the correct extinguisher. A water-based extinguisher won’t help on electrical fires, and using the wrong type can actually worsen the situation. Training should include information about the classes of fires (A, B, C, D, and K) and the corresponding fire extinguisher needed for each.
Ongoing training should be part of your fire safety program, especially when onboarding new employees or if equipment changes. Even a brief annual refresher can help ensure team members retain critical information. Practical drills combined with classroom instruction make the information more likely to stick when it matters most.
Giving your team the knowledge and confidence to act in a fire emergency helps protect not just your property, but more importantly, lives.
Make fire safety a team effort—contact us with any questions and be sure to give us a call to schedule fire extinguisher inspections or maintenance!
When a power outage occurs, emergency lighting can be the difference between chaos and calm. These critical systems guide people to safety by illuminating pathways and exits during emergencies. But to function when needed most, they must be tested and maintained regularly. If you're a property owner or manager, staying on top of your emergency lighting maintenance is not just a smart safety practice—it’s a legal obligation.
Emergency lights provides backup illumination when the regular power supply fails. Whether due to a fire, natural disaster, or electrical fault, emergency lights help occupants exit the building safely. These systems are especially crucial in commercial, industrial, and multi-family residential buildings. OSHA and NFPA regulations require that emergency light systems be fully operational and tested at specific intervals.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA 101) requires that emergency lighting systems undergo:
Maintenance includes checking batteries, bulbs, and internal components for damage or wear. If a system fails a test, it must be repaired or replaced promptly to remain compliant.
Regular testing ensures your lighting will function when it matters most. Neglecting this responsibility not only puts lives at risk but could also lead to legal penalties and insurance issues.
At Service Fire Equipment, we offer scheduled inspections and maintenance to help your building stay safe and compliant. Contact us today to set up a service plan tailored to your property’s needs.
An expired fire extinguisher is more than just an outdated tool—it can be a serious safety risk if left unchecked. Fire extinguishers play a critical role in protecting lives and property during emergencies, but they don't last forever. Understanding what happens after they expire and how to properly dispose of them is essential for maintaining a safe environment.
Fire safety should be a top priority for any business, regardless of industry or size. Yet far too many companies unintentionally overlook critical precautions, putting their employees, customers, and assets at risk. By learning about the top fire safety mistakes businesses make, you can better prepare your workplace to avoid costly hazards, violations, and downtime.
Running a business or managing a commercial property involves many responsibilities, and fire safety is one of the most important. A fire marshal inspection is not just a formality—it ensures that your building meets local, state, and national fire codes and is safe for employees, customers, and visitors. Failing an inspection can result in costly fines, mandatory closures, or worse, increased risk in the event of a fire.
When it comes to fire protection, fire extinguisher inspection and maintenance are often misunderstood or used interchangeably. While both are essential for safety and compliance, they serve different functions in ensuring that your fire extinguishers are ready when you need them most.
Recharging fire extinguishers is crucial because, once every 24 seconds, a fire department responds to an emergency call regarding a fire. Is your business ready when it comes to fire protection? While developing an evacuation plan and assigning roles in your office is important, ensuring that you know how to operate a fire extinguisher -- and that those fire extinguishers are in working condition -- is also key.
In this post, we'll walk you through the steps you need to know to understand how to use a fire extinguisher and discuss the importance of proper maintenance and recharging dire extinguishers.
We'll also tell you how to find the top fire extinguisher sales and services in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Knowing how to put out a kitchen fire quickly and effectively could save a life.
During a three year span, close to 8000 restaurant fires were reported across the U.S. each year. Most of these fires started in the kitchen.
At home, it's a similar story. Over a four-year period, domestic kitchen fires from cooking activities resulted in an average of 530 deaths per year.
With planning and preparation, no one ever needs to find themselves in the face of a kitchen fire and not know how to put it out. Below are the three most effective ways to put out a kitchen fire.
Vent hood cleaning should never be an afterthought for restaurant owners. It’s one of the most critical components of a commercial kitchen’s fire safety and hygiene strategy. Yet, it’s often overlooked—until there’s a problem. This guide breaks down the essentials, so you know when, why, and how to stay compliant and safe.